Time to say hallo to Harrow as the Hamlet make their second trip of the fledging campaign to Earlsmead...

It’s been a tough start for the Borough this term but manager Dave Anderson, who made his name taking AFC Wimbledon into the Football League, has been quick to insist he would be keeping his eyes on the bigger picture despite the club’s slim pickings from the first half dozen games prior to last Saturday’s last gasp victory on the road at Leiston. That victory must have proved a tonic for prior to kick-off that day only Hampton and Richmond Borough, with game in hand, sat below Harrow after the first six games yielded just two points and a zero return over the Bank Holiday weekend which saw arch-rivals Wealdstone claim local bragging rights with a 2-0 win at Earlsmead and the Metropolitan Police repeat that score line at Imber Court.

The season began in frustrating fashion as Shaun Lucien’s peach of a free kick kick rescued a point for the Borough at Home to Billericay Town when it seemed as if all the players’ efforts might come to naught. However that good fortune was all but absent in the midweek trip to Bury Town a few days later as a combination of defensive lapses and a wasted spot kick by the usually deadly Leroy Griffiths conspired to send the Borough home pointless from their long trip after a 3-2 defeat.

If fortune had not favoured them in Suffolk, the Saturday coach trip to Margate must have taken a detour through the Pilkington Glass factory, Battersea Black Cats Home and the local ladder factory leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The defence was still rousing from its slumbers when Charles Ademeno smashed the home side into a 22-second lead. After had Borough pulled level on 21 minutes, a foul on Simeon Akinola gave Lucien the chance to put his side ahead form the spot but the home ‘keeper rescued his side with save. The dismissal of Ryan Dolby gave Harrow a man advantage but it was one they failed to take advantage of as Margate bagged two more goals to take the points.

The visit of one of the early pacesetters, Kingstonian, must have been viewed with some trepidation but the Borough squad dug deep, defending with their lives in the second half as their Surrey visitors staged a strong revival, after a first half when the hosts held the whip hand. The game finished goalless but it was not for want of trying on the part of both sets of players. However, hopes that the result might kick-start the stuttering season were stillborn as the double defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend sent the Borough tumbling deep into the drop zone. It must have been with much relief when new lad Rhys Murrell-Williamson came off the bench to snatch an 89th minute winner at Leiston, a scuffed shot from close range which might have lacked aesthetic merit but had the traveling fans toasting the former Crystal Palace youngster’s maiden goal for the club. The result was made all the sweeter for Harrow had overcome Fulham’s 11th hour recall of goalkeeper Max Oberschmidt after the Premiership side whisked the young German custodian, dubbed the ‘new Oliver Kahn’, away to a loan spell in the more glamorous surroundings of Scottish giants Celtic at 9:45 pm on Friday evening. The wires must have been buzzing into the wee small hours as Anderson secured Alex Tokarczyk from Hemel Hempstead in time for the trip, their perseverance rewarded with a clean sheet from the debutant stopper.

However, despite that victory, Anderson must be particularly aware of the fact Borough have been seriously missing in the striking department with those goals that have not come courtesy of a set piece, come via the invention of opponent with the three out-and-out strikers, the vastly experienced Leroy Griffiths, former Sutton United hitman Chris Benjamin and the prodigiously promising Simeon Akinola failing to find the net so far.

Yet he remains sanguine ahead of this afternoon’s contest and speaking to the local Harrow Observer, he commented that was glad not to be going into the contest still looking for his first win for the season.

“Of course you are aware of it when you get to five six games and you haven’t won,” he said. “You are aware of it but experience tells you to put it to the back of your mind and just get on with it.

“Dulwich are the best footballing side in the division. They play football in the right way and I enjoy watching them. We are under no illusions as to how difficult it will be.”

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Harrow Borough Football Club, Earlsmead, Carlyon Avenue, South Harrow, HA2 8SS. Location information can be found here

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £6 for Senior & Students
• £5 for Football League & Premier League Club Season Ticket Holders and Members
• All accompanied Under 16’s FREE
• £1 All Other under 16s